Albert Ellis’ Theory of Personality and Its Influence on Youth Smoking: A Critical Review

Ishita Aggarwal

Abstract

Albert Ellis, an American psychologist, founded Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT is a form of psychotherapy based on the idea that human beings are “sign-, symbol-, and language-creating.” Along with REBT, Ellis also developed the A-B-C Theory of Personality. In this theory, significant activating events (A) causes human beings to create musturbatory belief sys­tems (B) leading to emotional consequences (C) based on their beliefs. Following Ellis’s theories, I argue that youth smoking is a behavior that re­sults from a dire need for social acceptance and approval. I then propose that REBT can be used to reduce rates of youth smoking. In this critical review, I initially provide a detailed biography of Albert Ellis and an overview of his theory of per­sonality. Then, I demonstrate the negative effects of the media and personal relationships serving as significant activating events that cause the early onset of tobacco use. Finally, I propose my own solutions, based on Ellis’s cognitive, emo­tive-evocative, and behavioral therapies, to de­crease youth smoking rates.